Essential Ocean Variables (EOV) and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV) are complementary frameworks that enable standardized metrics to inform policy and planning conservation efforts and make progress towards biological diversity targets. They are fundamental for reporting on national biodiversity priorities and international agreements (i.e. Convention on Biological Diversity Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development Goals, CCAMLR, IPCC, IPBES, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Maritime Spatial Planning Framework Directive, etc.). The variables are curated by the Global Ocean Observing System - GOOS Biology and Ecosystems panel of experts and the GEO BON’s Marine Biodiversity Observation Network, and popularized by researcher networks including the Marine Life 2030 and OBON, SUPREME, and other Ocean Decade Programmes. Some of the physics, biogeochemistry, and biology and ecosystems EOVs are also as Essential Climate Variables (ECV). An important goal is to improve modelling and forecasting of marine life and ecological scenarios. This is especially challenging but critical for gathering meaningful environmental knowledge and data at temporal and spatial scales of complex biological, biogeochemical and physical processes to inform ecosystem-based approaches to biodiversity conservation and manage for sustainable ocean development. The remote sensing community has initiated an approach to estimate Essential Variables. The aim of the workshop is to help advance consensus among the private, government, and academic communities on the mapping of EOV, EBV and other products based on remote sensing. It seeks to identify limitations of satellite Earth Observation (SEO) for deriving accurate ocean EBV at the required spatial and temporal scales. To do so we aim to focus on these aspects:
1. Prioritize remote sensing observations and products needed for local, national, and international biodiversity monitoring and management in the EBV framework.
2. Highlight scientific, monitoring gaps, and policy options that may be addressed by defining specifications for future satellite remote sensing missions.
3. Identify in situ observations to calibrate, validate, and complement remote sensing data. Methods of interest include the use of eDNA, passive and active acoustics, autonomous systems and approaches, imaging and other optics observing in the context of remote sensing advances for Essential Variables.
4. Advances in modelling that combine remote sensing and in situ biodiversity EOV to generate EBVs, indicators; examples of practical management and other operational applications are especially welcome.
Workshop methodology: The workshop is open to any BIOSPACE paricipant. After introducing the key perspective of the workshop, participants will be guided through group discussion to (1) identify metrics, indicators, and related remote sensing products, and their potential application
for specific monitoring and policy needs, and (2) identify platforms, limitations, and requirements for metrics retrieval
Expected Outcomes: The workshop will elaborate a roadmap of products and services that are available for answering policy needs, define a list of products and indicators that can be produced in the future, and identify limitations and challenges deriving from methodological challenges and data gaps. The workshop will provide a summary of present platforms, limitations, and requirements for metrics retrieval. An output for space agencies will be requirements for future satellite earth observation to address marine biodiversity challenges.
We invite stakeholders from government, private, and academic groups to move these goals forward by actively participating to this workshop.
